…Beneficiaries include Luwi mission hospital, health centres, schools, palaces etc
IN November 26, Government commenced the construction of its first ever mini-hydro power station which was to be implemented by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) at a cost of $8.7 million.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony held on November 26, 2016 in Mwinilunga, Vice President Inonge Wina said the Kasanjiku project was an important project REA was undertaking as it was a flagship of the government’s effort to increase access to electricity in rural areas from the current 3.7 percent to 50 percent by 2030.
Ms Wina said Government was keen on developing rural Zambia because it believes that’s where development should be concentrated. “We are hopeful that once a rural community is electrified, people set up businesses such as salons, restaurants and will also provide information and communication technology services” she said.
The construction of this project has been completed and awaits official handover. A number of connections such as Chief Ntambu’s palace, Luwi Mission Hospital, some schools have been made and grid extension is underway to Senior Chief Sailunga’s palace.
PROJECTED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS
In line with the REA’s mandate of providing electricity infrastructure to rural areas using appropriate technologies to contribute to the improvement of quality of life for the rural population, the Kasanjiku Mini Hydro Power Project is expected to uplift the standard of living of the community in Ntambu and surrounding areas as highlighted here:.
1.1 Beneficiaries:
The Mini-Hydro Power supply is expected to benefit public and private institutions in Chief Ntambu and Chief Sailunga chiefdoms targeting trading centres, a mission hospital, eight primary schools, three high schools, four rural health centres, a local court, a Catholic Mission Parish and a chief’s palace as well as associated private and public households.
Hospital Assistant Administrator Sister Helen Banda informed authorities who visited the hospital that the health facility has been transformed into a fully-fledged hospital.
“Just over the last one month we have seen great transformation of the hospital. We have made significant saving of resources that were used for operating the diesel generator.
“We were using about 10 drums of diesel at a cost of K25, 000 per month. These resources have now been channeled towards improving our medical supply chain,” Sister Banda said.
And Medical Laboratory Technologist Ms. Chewe Sichela said electrification of the laboratory has enabled quality service delivery as they now have increased operating hours from three hours per-day to 24 hours per-day resulting in a well-served population. “Our turnaround time has tremendously improved from about one day to two hours or less. In addition, our cold chain on reagents has improved resulting in more accurate results on demand for correct diagnosis,” Ms. Sichela said. And Physiotherapy Technologist, Elias Ndhlovu said most of the equipment that was idle some months ago was now fully operational and attending to patients had become more enjoyable for practitioners who feel motivated due to the availability of reliable electricity.
“Management of conditions has tremendously improved as clients are being attended to regardless of the time,” Mr Ndhlovu said.
The project will benefit a catchment population of 12, 913 with a total household capacity of 2, 152 households. The targeted 10 schools are expected to directly benefit a total number of 4, 144 pupils currently enrolled at the schools and about 81 public service workers (teachers) employed at the schools while the four rural health centres which include a mission hospital and three rural health centres are also expected to directly benefit thirty workers employed at the facilities with their daily clientele of 310 per day.
The project is also expected to benefit the local court which services 50 clients per day and an employment opportunity of about four workers.
1.2 Economic activities in Ntambu Area
The supply of electricity to the area is expected to boost the existing economic activities currently taking place on a micro scale such as retail trading, alcoholic beverage trading, and honey processing, maize-milling and rice polishing.
The availability of electricity in the area will also make it possible for the setting up of new businesses in the area such as electric hammer mills for processing maize-meal, poultry, entertainment centres, welding, hair salons, barbershops, honey processing plants, rice polishing plants, sugar plantation, carpentry and internet cafes with other such information technology businesses.
Staffing levels at public institutions are also expected to greatly improve with availability of power as the public workers will be able to use electric appliances such as television sets, radios, cookers, fans, computers and other entertainment systems thereby motivating staff to stay in rural areas.
2.0 SCOPE OF WORKS
The project involved construction of the following among others:
2 x 0.32MW Francis-type generator-turbine set with rated head of 12.4m
Low overflow weir (5m) with crest length of 40m
Unregulated overflow spillway
Power canal, 260m long
Penstock (2No. 60m long, 1.2m diameter)
Power intake
Access Road, 10km
Surface power house
Switch yard with transformer rating of 800kVA
Transmission line voltage (20km), 33kV
• Staff houses (1x 3 bedroomed and 1 x 2 bedroomed)
Kasanjiku Mini Hydro Power Plant has been completed. It’s a state of the art project which is bringing about social and economic benefits to the livelihoods of the people. Public and private institutions have access to power which in turn is contributing to improved service delivery in rural health centres and schools among others.
In addition, the readily available power will boost economic activities in the area and consequently contribute to the economic growth of the country as a whole.
*Johnstone Chikwanda is an energy expert and a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Zambia, a PhD candidate at Johnson University, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
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